Trump announced on November 12 that Musk would work with American entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy to lead the proposed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Musk immediately forwarded the news, like a living "official fan".
However, the actual situation is not simple. Trump’s sinister tricks are hidden behind this matter. Friends who like Musk may have to worry.
Where does the US government spend its money?
Musk's next move is to cut U.S. federal government spending, with the goal of "cutting spending in half." Let's first look at what the U.S. government spends.
(In 2024, the total US government spending is $6.752 trillion, an increase of $617 billion from the previous fiscal year)
1. Social security expenditure
It accounts for 22%, mainly used for pensions, unemployment benefits, disability benefits, etc.
2. Defense spending
It accounts for 13% and is used to maintain national security, military construction, weapons and equipment research and development, etc.
3. Health and medical insurance expenditures
Health expenditure accounts for 14%, and medical insurance expenditure accounts for 13%, which is used for public medical care, medical insurance, medical assistance, etc.
4. Education, employment and social service expenditures
The proportion is relatively low and is used in education, vocational training, social services and other fields.
5. Net interest payments on U.S. Treasury bonds
Accounting for 13%, the current high interest rate environment has further aggravated the government's interest burden.
6. Other expenses
Including veterans affairs, transportation, justice, energy, environment and other fields.
Minister Ma's sword is not easy to draw.
In order to achieve Minister Ma's goal of "cutting the federal government budget by 50%", it means that we must make some changes to the big data:
Social Security, National Defense, Health and Medicare, and Net Interest Payments on the U.S. Treasury Debt.
None of these "Four Heavenly Kings" are easy to mess with.
If social security is affected, it means the whole nation will benefit. After the election, the government will resort to force-feeding and abandonment of voters? I am afraid that the position of the new government will be unstable again, and it will have to be handed over to the Democratic Party in four years.
Cutting military spending? Will the US still be the world's policeman in the future? It's good enough if it doesn't increase. Selling weapons instead of fighting is the only way out.
Cut health and medical insurance? It seems that taking tough measures against the pharmaceutical groups behind them is a feasible way to go, but it will inevitably offend the vested interests and will inevitably have to chew a hard bone.
Not to mention the US Treasury bonds. If the US defaults on its debts, the credit of the US dollar will be ruined. Of course, given the traditional American style, we cannot rule out the possibility of finding faults and detaining other countries' assets, which can indirectly achieve the goal. Anyway, there are already many people who criticize the US, so it doesn't matter if there are more countries.
After all this, it can’t be said that it is a fantasy for Musk to achieve his expected goals, but it can be said that it is as difficult as climbing to the sky.
Trump's wishful thinking
After Musk takes on this job, regardless of whether he can succeed or not, the happiest person will be Trump.
Why do I say so?
Because putting Musk in charge of reducing the government is a double-edged sword. If things go well, Trump will add another achievement to his political career, with more power concentrated, and the vacated positions and budgets left to his own people; if things go wrong, it means Musk failed to execute well, and there will be sufficient reasons to marginalize him in the future.
Some friends will definitely ask: Musk is the first contributor to Trump’s presidency. There is no need for Trump to repay kindness with enmity and set a trap for Musk, right?
I can only say that Han Xin and Liu Bang had the same relationship. If a minister's achievements are greater than his master's and he is proud of it, the result will only bring disaster.
There is a passage in the Records of the Grand Historian: Biography of the Marquis of Huaiyin:
Once, Han Xin went to Fan Kuai's house for something. Fan Kuai was very respectful to Han Xin, knelt down to greet him, and called himself a minister, saying, "Your Majesty, you are so kind as to come and see me!"
But after hearing this, Han Xin said contemptuously: "I didn't expect that I would be in the same company as you, Fan Kuai." After that, he walked away without giving Fan Kuai any face at all.
After feeling Han Xin's arrogance, let's compare it with Musk:
In a TV interview, Musk boasted about how he helped Trump win the swing states. You know, in the US election, "whoever wins the swing states wins the election." Musk's words are equivalent to "Trump is nothing without me" and "If I were qualified to be the president of the United States, it would not be Trump's turn at all."
Trump must have heard this. Letting Musk be the minister and setting a trap is Trump's "gift" to Musk. It is either killing someone with a borrowed knife or hiding a knife behind a smile.
If Trump really trusted Musk, there would be no need to stick a pin next to him - Vivek Ramaswamy, who runs the "Government Efficiency Department" with Musk.
Is Musk doing something secretive?
After all the calculations, Musk is unlikely to be able to cut the federal government's budget by 50%, and perhaps he has no intention of achieving this goal. On the surface, Musk is ecstatic to see the official, but in fact, maybe he is just playing along.
After all, the English abbreviation of "Department of Government Efficiency" happens to be DOGE, which is exactly the same as the name of a certain digital currency favored by Musk. Is there such a coincidence in the world?
Being an official on the surface but making money in private, I am afraid Musk has his own little calculations, and will turn around after making a fortune. After all, in a capitalist country, only capital will not betray itself.
What will happen next is either Musk finds a reason to get out of this situation and protect himself, or he will be too clever and end up stuck in a quagmire with no way out.
Wish him good luck.
